School bus operator makes U-turn on payments

Flagfinders initially gave families two weeks' notice to pay fares upfront

Parents have expressed relief after a bus company said it would no longer change how it charged them for school transport.

Flagfinders had given families two weeks' notice notice to pay £366 upfront for its services across Essex, having previously offered a monthly payment scheme.

But following a backlash to that announcement, the company released a statement on Thursday which read: "Apologies, we got it massively wrong."

It said it was developing an option for parents to pay via direct debit as "this option should not have been removed in the first place".

Mark Everitt, whose son travels from Rayne to Great Dunmow, said he was relieved to hear the news.

"Between now and February they want £1,100," he told BBC Essex.

"It's just not feasible. We can't afford it... not up front like that, but monthly it wasn't an issue."

Anne Hooks, a member of Braintree District Council, said: "Obviously, it is great news that the nine-month direct debit has been reinstated.

"I did see the Facebook page from Flagfinders last night saying 'We got it wrong'.

"We acknowledge the increase of costs of putting on the services and there are commercial decisions to be made. But not at the expense of parents with two weeks' notice having to find nearly £1,000 to send their child to school in two weeks' time.

"It was unacceptable, and it is great news that the direct debit has been reinstated."